Gemini

Chapter 8

Y/n looked at the letters and apology gifts Alexander had sent her for the past few days. She did hear about the incident with Olivia, how the prince coldly had the guard throw her out of the palace. She would have laughed and enjoyed it if it had been her in the past, but it didn't please her. It just comforted her in her belief that the green-haired girl was right. The prince loved the chase. The more she rejected him, the more he pursued her. 

Today, too, she received at least three bouquets of red and white roses, along with silver and ruby jewelry. It was said that couples were to wear accessories with their lover's features. 

Her mother was busy negotiating with the queen. The royal family didn't want to break the engagement, even though the grand Duchy was adamant about it. Meanwhile, her father was investing in mine. It was the same mine that made Baron Grandell rich. But this time, Grand Duke Valentine was out to retaliate against the Baron family and buy any asset they were interested in. While some people chastised him for acting petty and not being the bigger person, others praised his action, claiming that the Baron needed to understand their status difference and stop aiming for a seat that wasn't meant to be his. Turned out, he boasted a lot about his daughter's relationship with the prince.

Thanks to that, Y/n now had an excuse to stay in the Grand Duchy, claiming to want to avoid the curious eyes of the other nobles. The only problem was Claude. Ever since his confession in the carriage, he had been stuck with her more. He would be more tactile, too. 

The young girl shuddered as she felt his hand sneak around her waist, his warm breath near her neck and ears. Knowing he didn't see her as a sister, she couldn't help but see his nefarious thoughts as he peered down at the gifts. 

"_Tss, are they that desperate? How long are they going to drag us like that?

_They are apologizing for the lie you told Mother.

_Is it, though?   That's what Alexander did in the past timeline during the academy. Who said he wouldn't do it again?"

Y/n stared at him in the corner of her eyes. It pissed her off that he was right. Alexander was a fickle man, his love and attention were only based on how much someone resisted him. Even if she said she didn't want to marry Alexander, she couldn't deny that she did hold some affection for her in the past. 

Claude hummed a tune as he helped her open the gift before carelessly throwing it to the side. He may be the only person who could do that with a gift from royalty. 

"_Do you do that with every gift you get?

_Only those who are not from you."

Y/n shivered at his word. She looked up at him exasperated while the boy grinned. Something inside her enjoyed the feeling of exclusivity. She felt a strange delight about it. As they were talking about his habit and Alexander, a maid came to call her. 

"_My Lady, you have a guest waiting for you."

To her surprise, it was Felix. Duke Sol's son and Alexander's closest friend aside from Arthur Helenor. He was the one introducing Olivia to Alexander in both timelines. The young girl did a polite and delicate curtsy before sitting down across him. 

Felix didn't like Y/n, in both timelines. She looked delicate, like a doll but her heart was black and rotten different from Olivia who was innocent and pure. The young boy couldn't help but feel aggrieved. It was her fault if Olivia was gravely hurt, she didn't know what she said to his dear friend but it created a rift between her and the prince. 

"_I will not beat around the bush, please forgive Olivia if she ever hurt your feelings. But creating trouble for her like this is too much. 

_What did I do? 

_You know what I mean!! Alexander never acted like that before. What did you do for him to act like that?

_I did nothing, Lady Grandell angering the prince has nothing to do with me. You must be aware the Grand Duchy is fighting with the royal family to break our engagement. What is happening to Lady Grandell is the consequence of her actions.

_If it's the attention you need from the prince, then there is no need for you to...!

_Let me be clear here! I am BREAKING off, my engagement. It's not a way to grab attention.

_Then why did you have to put Olivia in the conflict?

_I'm not the one who put her in this conflict but herself. I'm sure you noticed too. But how long are you going to put the blame on me? You also have a certain responsibility in bad reputation.

_What?

_You saw it too, the way she acted around the prince. Everyone know you harbor romantic feelings for the young Lady. It's so obvious that, I'm surprised as she doesn't know. Or could it be she rejected you?

_Olivia and I have a love, someone like you can't understand.

_You are right, I wouldn't let my lover flirt with other like you do."

Felix blushed in embarrassment. He stood up without a word before stomping away. He couldn't help but feel angered by her words.

She knew nothing about him or Olivia. How dare she talk about her like that? Felix was deep in his thoughts when an arrow flew past him.

"_Ah, sorry! Are you alright Felix?"

Felix looked at Claude stunned. That arrow missed him by a few inches. Claude looked at him like nothing was wrong. An innocent smile on his lips, he acted like he didn't almost kill someone. His crossbow still in his  hand.

"_I was trying my new crossbow.

_You almost killed me.

_Hm? You are alive tho."

He tilted his head like he couldn't understand what was wrong with him. He walked along with him to his carriage.

"_How is Lady Grandell?

_She was shocked but she is doing alright.

_I see, what's a pity, but I guess it's my fault.

_Not at all, it's...

_I should have make sure she drowned."

Felix looked at him with a long shiver. The white-haired boy just smiled before shooting his arrow to the dove. His arrow expertly hit the bird right in the heart. Claude looked at ease with the crossbow. He picked up his arrow with the bird at the end.

"_I hope you will not bother my sister ever again."

He gave the dead dove to Felix who hurried himself in his carriage. As the carriage drived away, he looked at the message tied at the bird's legs.

He couldn't believe Olivia could send those types of letters. How could she do such a things to him?